Luba Grigorovitch
Branch Secretary
The results are in for the Protected Industrial Action Ballot for Metro Trains Operations with a resounding yes of 99% from all members who participated.
Members at Metro are sick and tired of being taken advantage of and they deserve a fair and reasonable deal. With 99% of members who voted endorsing industrial action it is clear members are frustrated by Metro’s tactics and aggressive attacks on hard-won conditions. It is time to take a stand.
The ballot has approved industrial action that includes:
- Workplace stoppages ranging from 4 to 48 hours.
- Banning last minute changes to timetables such as station skipping and short shunting.
- Refusal to check Mykis.
- Open barrier days.
- Refusal to issue infringement notices.
- Bans on working overtime and a refusal to participate in any workplace trials or testing of new technology.
- Refusal for station staff to make some service announcements.
- Uniform ban.
Metro is a majority foreign-owned company that has drained over $305 million from the Victorian economy since it took over the franchise. Enough is enough, it is time that Metro put people before profit, and give workers a fair deal.
If Metro are looking for improved productivity and better outcomes, they must to take a good hard look at management before they continue to point the finger at you, our hardworking members who keep the network running.
A Delegates meeting will be arranged in the coming weeks to plan out any potential industrial action that will take place. Stay tuned for further updates in the coming weeks and remember, united we stand, divided we fall!
